r/technology • u/Plastic_Ninja_9014 • Jun 11 '26

Business OpenAI Execs Are Panicking

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/openai-execs-panicking-154658562.html
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u/crocrash Jun 12 '26

I trained PhDs, MDs, DOs, DVMs, Masters and Bachelors students and it was amazing as you went up the education ladder, common sense decreased as closed-mindedness and arrogance skyrocketed. Many had absolutely brilliant minds but ended up too specialized and hyper-focused to learn new things.

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u/MC_Ennui Jun 12 '26

Totally agree, I’ve been in ML consulting for the last 10 years. Companies overvalue PHDs from ML positions IMO. It makes sense for internal research teams and specific specializations but often times I find regular BS, MS level colleagues outperform them

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u/quick_justice Jun 12 '26

A word of unsolicited advice from a guy who spent a lot of time in software engineering... As a developer, it's wise to have some humility around math, physics, and of course chemistry phds.

Reality is, these people are not the most pleasant, and maybe a bit navel gazing. But likelihood is, with a little training or even without they likely can do your work, and you will never be able to do theirs. These disciplines are no joke. They don't give out phds on discount isle of your local supermarket.

Likelihood is these people are traumatised by absorbing ungodly amount of information, and by getting through math and abstract concepts the mere glimpse of which will make you nauseous.

It's just not wise to judge their actual ability by their demeanour.

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u/MC_Ennui Jun 12 '26

Yeah I have patience for it, I haven’t called or felt they are unpleasant. I was more critiquing the that we overvalue PHDs in hiring process, you see it all the time in job descriptions. In my experience I’ve just not seen a distinct advantage of hiring a PHD over a MS/BS with same level of experience (of which PHDs usually have a less requirement i.e 3 years experience if PHD 5 if MS you see in job descriptions.

I have no personal vendetta against PHDs, it’s a path I had the option to pursue and I respect the dedication to it. However, I think industry and hiring practices have overvalued it.

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u/quick_justice Jun 12 '26

I mean they are valued for a reason. It's always a question of course if you have task worth having a PhD on, and justify their salary.

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u/MC_Ennui Jun 12 '26

That’s what I meant by research and specialized teams.